In today’s digital age, educational leaders must be well versed in instructional design to create effective and engaging learning experiences. The goal of instructional design is to develop tailored educational experiences that help learners achieve specific learning objectives in an engaging, efficient and cost-effective way.
With the rise of online education, instructional design has become crucial in optimizing teaching methods and enhancing student learning outcomes. St. Thomas University (STU) offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning online program that equips students with the necessary insights to excel in this field. This article focuses on what educational leaders need to know about instructional design and how it functions in an increasingly digital world.
Theories of Instructional Design
The concept of instructional design itself is meant to fill in an educational gap. In fact, “[o]ne of the main goals of instructional design is to create learning experiences that are tailored to the needs of your learners,” according to the Digital Learning Institute. “This means that instructional designers scope their learners in advance to gain a better understanding of their prior subject knowledge and motivations for taking the course or training. Considering the needs of your learners also involves designing learning experiences that are accessible for learners with disabilities or learning difficulties.”
The article points out other tactics such as making the material more engaging through gamification and using the clearly defined metrics of the programs to measure its success. Continuing to invest in better instructional design can, therefore, only benefit students and educators alike. This is why it was systemically developed into what is called the ‘ADDIE Cycle.’
What Is the ADDIE Cycle?
One of the foundational processes instructional designers use is the ADDIE model, which stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. This model provides a structured approach to creating educational programs that meet learners’ needs and improve educational outcomes. According to eLearning Industry, each step of the cycle lends itself to the following goals:
- Analysis: This means identifying the learning needs, goals and objectives. Instructional designers gather information about the learners, the content and the context in which the learning will occur.
- Design: This entails developing the curriculum, choosing appropriate instructional strategies and selecting the media and resources to be used. The design phase sets the blueprint for the development of instructional materials.
- Development: During development, the actual creation of instructional materials takes place. This can include writing content, developing multimedia elements and assembling all components into a cohesive course.
- Implementation: Learners get access to the material through a Learning Management System (LMS), website or platform or a webinar.
- Evaluation: The final phase involves assessing the effectiveness of the instructional materials and the learning experience. This can include ongoing assessments during the course and at the end of the course. The evaluation phase helps instructional designers refine the course for future iterations.
Once this is done, the designers get to revise and remodel as needed. Students in STU’s online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning program are given the tools to shape their curricula through courses such as Instructional Design: Theories and Models; Multimedia Design and Development; and Foundations of Digital Education and Instruction. These courses focus on the methods for creating and improving educational programs, especially highlighting the benefits and flexibility of using digital technologies in teaching.
Benefits of Better Instructional Design
In one article for D2L, author Amita Parikh notes that “[a]s you can probably imagine, asking a student to read a dense chapter of text has a very different result from asking them to participate in an educational game.” The biggest advantage of implementing design tactics in the classroom is engagement, which is particularly important when it comes to distance learning. Well-designed courses can include multimedia elements, discussion forums and interactive activities that motivate students.
Lastly, one of the biggest benefits of effective instructional design is accessibility to all learners, including those with disabilities. By using principles of universal design for learning, instructional designers create courses that are flexible and adaptable. This includes providing multiple means of representation, engagement and expression — ensuring all students can access and benefit from the learning materials.
STU’s online program positions educational professionals to improve the future of instructional design. Graduates with a doctorate in educational leadership, digital instruction and distance learning have the knowledge and tools to utilize digital strategies and tools for effective instructional design.
Learn more about STU’s online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning program.
